Because I haven’t published that much this month I will therefore give you a wrap-up of the most interesting things I already twittered with some explanation why I consider it interesting.
1. Sleep above the store at Maison Rika in Amsterdam
A guest room above a store? What is more engaging than being so close to the store the brand and its story.
2. Small businesses can sell their product at Target
3. The first ‘Start up store’ opened its doors in New York
Individualism and an uncertain employment market infuses the rise of a new mercantile class. Retail concepts that offer more niche products/services and takes the (new) small entrepreneurs serious will be winners.
5. Radio Shack recognize it roots and starts a community site
Acknowledge your heritage by giving your first fans a platform to meet and share knowledge is a wise marketing move for every brand. When this platform is all about creating, it’s spot on the current trends.
Now the environment and the crisis are dictating the way we think about consumption. New (commercial) initiatives around swapping are more relevant than ever.
Brands have teamed up with famous individual designers or other brands for a while now, but Swedish retailer H&M taken this trend a step further by developing a clothing line for the book and movie Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. The line was launched with a pop-up shop in the Meatpacking district in NYC, open only from December 14th to the 18th, 2011. This cross-promotion also refers back to the brands’ Swedish origins and celebrates a cultural path with an unconventional theme and attitude. Integrating brands and cultural events is a promising trend that benefits everyone involved, and is ideal for customers who are open to identifying with popular characters or social movements. We fully expect to see more of these cross-promotional activities as brands look to integrate themselves further into their customers’ lifestyle.
I really love the list of 12 things to watch out for in 2012 by marketing agency Idea works shown in the last message. So I thought it would be nice to illustrate it by a slide show with examples.
Many are interpretations of what I think suits the point others are already being mentioned by Idea works.
For the the list and explanation of all points click here
The blog New Retail by marketing agency Idea works published its predictions for 2012. They see an overall trend that blurs and blends everything in retail. The psychical worlds with the digital, manufacturers are becoming retailers or vice versa and global players transform to local heroes. In a list they define 3 key trends and 12 things to watch.
Digitization
Globalization
Polarization
Amongst these three key trends, they picked out 12 things to watch out for in 2012.
Starbucks seems to enter a new stage in their recycle design experiments. In the company’s hometown Seattle the coffee chain is opening its’ first store made of used shipping containers. The containers are actually the discarded ones being used to import tea and coffee.
In the New York Times Starbucks says that the eco-friendly concept may lead to more shipping container stores, but keeps the possibility open that it can also be a one of a kind experiment. The store is drive-up and walk-up only with no space to lounge inside. Just another experiment that makes the brand, that almost felt victim to blandness, interesting again.
What to do if the temporariness of pop up is losing its exclusivity? You take this, ones super hip now uber mainstream phenomenon, more select. No better you make it SECRET. Sports giant Adidas has recently come up with a brilliant sales strategy that sparks a new incentive.
Adidas will launch 6 pop-up stores that are open only for a short time in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The invitations with the opening dates and venues are spread via social networking sites to a select group of people. The urban style stores of 40 to 90 sqm large are furnished with super simple steel tubes furniture. This allowed it to be put up within one day on site with one hex key. Its quick instalation makes the surprise even bigger!
The last 2 weeks a few pieces on the net caught my eye. Here is the news that I think is exciting enough to mention. It shows a possible technological frog leap for on-line shopping and great examples of retail being used to elevate an idea or company
Augmented reality shopping screens for stores are still in prototype phase and now it looks like this technology will soon be accessible for owners of the XBox Kinect. KinectShop is an AR shopping platform that allows shoppers to grab items from an unlimited shelf of clothes and share the photos with friends on Twitter and Facebook. It is just a matter of time that every television will have this function with which this 20th century icon finally enters the 21st one.
Air New Zealand’s looked for an original way to introduce their uniform design. And what better way than using a shopping experience to make the workforce enthusiastic. The store allows staff to choose their uniform and get advice on grooming, makeup and presentation. ‘Clothes Hangar’ co-designed by Saatchi Design Worldwide breaths an eclectic New Zealand Beach atmosphere. Love the design btw.
Today the already much talked about 5 day pop-up shop of advertising agency Wieden + Kennedy opens its doors. This great example of an office that not only designs (retail) experiences for its customers but also organizes them for their self. And it is not only a showcase for their competences but also a charming way to support and connect themselves with the local entrepreneurs and edgy creative’s. I wander when this smart way to lift and connect with entrepreneurship and creativity get followers in my hometown Amsterdam.
All people who fly intercontinental flights know you can get bored very easy. After 5 hours flying your Ipod, book or in-flight entertainment system isn’t much of a help against boredomanymore. You wish to leave your seat too but it feels a waste of time unless you have to stretch your Stiff legs or empty your full bladder.
But now there is finally a good reason to leave your seat and kill that airborne time. Korean Air has unveiled a unique feature on board in the form of the number one hobby of most people. They introduced sky shop a luxury duty free shops on board of their 380 super jumbo jets.
The boutique built by cosmetics firm Lancôme consists of five specially designed units. The sections are designated to liquor, cosmetics, luxury jewellery or advertising space for these products. The in-flight duty free store takes up a total of 13 passenger seats, and although this means a loss of passenger revenue, Korean air is confident that the sale of high-end duty free products and product advertising space will more than make up for the revenue lost from these seats.
The first of Korean Air’s 10 A380 aircraft goes into operation on 10 June 2011 between Seoul and Tokyo, followed by Bangkok, Hong Kong and North American routes.
Brand Retail and Design 